kilonova

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noun

A type of supernova that is underluminous, caused by the merger of two neutron stars

Scrabble 15

Meanings

nounkilonova (plural kilonovas or kilonovae)

plural kilonovas · plural kilonovae

  1. astronomyA type of supernova that is underluminous, caused by the merger of two neutron stars
  2. informalnatural sciencesA radiation pattern typical of a kilonova.

    Moreover, during merger neutron-rich matter can be ejected that can shine as a kilonova due to the decay of r-process elements [2–13].

    2013 November, V Paschalidis, SL Shapiro, “A new scheme for matching general relativistic ideal magnetohydrodynamics to its force-free limit”, in Physical Review D
    3 more examples

    The observed energetics and temporal/spectral properties of the late infrared bump (ie, the "kilonova") are also found to be consistent with emission from the ejecta launched during a neutron star (NS)-NS merger and powered by a magnetar central engine.

    2013 December, YZ Fan, YW Yu, D Xu, ZP Jin, XF Wu, “A supramassive magnetar central engine for GRB 130603B”, in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, volume 779, number 2

    Disk winds generally contribute to a ~week long transient peaking in the near-infrared (kilonova), although an optical precursor can manifest as a signature of delayed black hole formation or high black hole spin.

    2015 January, R Fernandez, D Kasen, BD Metzger, “The effect of black hole spin on winds from neutron star merger remnant accretion disks”, in American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #225

    This component can give rise to an ≲1 d blue optical 'bump' in a kilonova light curve, even in the case of prompt BH formation, which may facilitate its detection.

    2015, R Fernández, D Kasen, “Outflows from accretion discs formed in neutron star mergers: effect of black hole spin”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name)

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see

Origin

From kilo- + nova. From kilo- (“thousands”). From being much more luminous than a nova, but less so than a typical supernova.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

kilonova. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kilonova

MLA

“kilonova.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kilonova. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “kilonova,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kilonova.

Source: kilonova on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.